Process of treating ores.



n n. 7|o,49s. Patented oct. 7,1902.

s. T. MUFFLY.

PROCESS 0F TREATING GRES.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.)

No. 7|o,496.

Patented Dct. 7,1902.l S. T. MUFFLY.

VPROCESS (IF TREATING ORI-1S.-

(Applicction tiled Sept. 20, 1901.) (lo Modal.)

a suoni-snm 2 ATTORNEYS WIN/E8 8 No. 7|o,496.

Patented Oct. 7, |902.

S. T. MUFFLY.

PROCESS 0F TREATING DRES.

(Appximian med sepa. 2o. 1901.)

3 Sheets-Shut E (No Model.)

WTNESSES M mi rrrtn co, WMA. nmnmixlu, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

SIDNEY TI'IEODORE MUFFLY, OF BOWDRE, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO RUNYON PYATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PROCESS OF TREATING ORES.

SPECIFICATION foi-1r ing part of Letters Patent No. 710,496, dated October 7, 1902. Application filed September Z0, 1901. Serial No. 75,800. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern: K Be it known that I, SIDNEY THEoDonn MUFFLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bowdre, in the county of Hall and '5 State ot' Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Treating Ores, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it ap- Io pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates particularly to proeesses for the extraction of gold and silver from ores, concentrates, slimes, and tailings by the use of cyanid of potassium or other x chemicals; and it has for its object to provide such a process or method as will effectually and economically supply oxygen to the ores during treatment, create and maintain a requisite and constant temperature, supply 'zo the solvent effectively as desired, and in general bring abouta more perfect and considerably more rapid leaching of the gold or silver.

lVith these and other objects in view my z5 invention consists in the process or method hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In carrying out my newly-invented process I may construct the necessary apparatus or plant in any desired manner, according to the 3o amount or character of ores to be treated. The apparatus best adapted to the practice of my process is one which I have invented and have made the subject of an application for patent filed in the United States Patent 3 5 Otlice of even date herewith-viz., on the 20th day ot September, 1901, Serial No. 75,790- and for the full and thorough comprehension of my process and the Inode of carrying` it into eiect I will first describe this said ap- 4o paratus and then proceed to define the mode of operation of my process.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the specilcation, in which like letters of reference designate corresponding parts,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing an apparatus embodying my invention aforesaid. Fig. 2 is a perspective elevation of the cylinder and the gearing thereof. 5o vertical section of and outlet pipes.

Fig. 3 is a partially-broken central the cylinder and its inlet Fig. 4 is a detail view of the closure device of the cylinder. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are details, respectively, of the filterplate, the cover-plate, and the securing device forming part of the said closure.

In the practice of my invention aforesaid I construct a cylinder A of any suitable form and material and line it interiorly with a plurality of plates closely adjacent linerplates IVithin the cylinder A, I secure a plurality of longitudinal strips or ball'les O at suitable distance apart. In any suitable portion of the circumference of the cylinder, and preferably near the end thereof, I form an opening for the insertion of the ores and chemicals, over which I secure the feed-hole casing D, the flange D' of which extends over the feed-opening in the cylinder and is tightly fastened. lVithin the easing D is formed a ledge or shoulder D2, on which rests a filtering device E, which consists of a metallic plate centrally open and a similar and smaller supplemental plate E', between which plates are secured layers of cotton-duck E2 and cocoa matting E3, both plates and the said layers being secured together by means of bolts. Above the filter-plate E is secured the cover F, which rests within and upon the upper edge of the casing D and projects thereovcr. In lugs D3, at either side of the casing D, is pivoted a segmental cross-head G, through which extends a hand-screw G', the lower end of which bears upon the c0ver-plate F, so as to clamp the same in position upon the feedhole casing. The filter-plate E and the coverplate F may be employed together, as shown in Fig. 4, or the cover-plate and the iilter may be used alternately and separately. Upon either end ofthe cylinder I secure hollow axles II, provided with integral flanges or plates II', by which they are bolted to the ends or heads A' of the cylinder. The axles rest in suitable bearings I' upon a framework or uprights I ot' any desired or approved form. At the end of the said axles is formed a stulling-box IIE, in which is inserted the end of an inlet-pipe J or an outlet-pipe J'. Vithin the cylinder, in communication with the hollow axles Il, are small chambers K and K', which communicate with the interior of the cylinder only through valves L and L', pivoted at L2. The valves of the inlet-chamber K swing out- IOO wardly to permit the entrance of airinto the cylinder, and the valves L of the outlet-chamber K swing inwardly to permit the exit of the hydrocyanic-acid fumes within the cylinder. Any suitable means may be employed for limiting the swing of the valves. In the drawings I have shown weak springs M and M for this purpose. The spring M is secured upon the outside of the chamber K and projects around the pivot L2. The spring M' is secured within the chamber K/ and bears lightly against the valves L upon theirinner faces. It Will be manifest that any suitable valves may be employed.

Upon the outside of one end of the cylinder A is secured a circumferentially-extending spur-gear N, attached to the said cylinder in anydesired lnannerand meshing'with a pinion O, connected to a pulley P, supported upon a shaft Q, suitably journaled/in the framework I. In the end of the cylinder are inserted a plurality of drainage-valves R.

The inlet-pipe J projects from an air blast or blower S, operated by any suitable power,-

from which air is injected through the said inlet-pipe J, formed into a Worm or plurality of coils J2, and this portion of the pipe is continued in the hot-air box or casing of a furnace T, through which the said pipe J passes, the furnace being generally part of the plant which operates-the machines, or it may be separate therefrom, if desired.

Between the furnace T and the cylinder A there is connected to the pipe J by a T-coupling J3 a pipe U, leading downwardly from a tank V, which contains cyanid of potassium in solution, preferably a one-half-of-one-percent. solution. The elevation of the tank V is to give sufficient force of flow to the fluid solution. The pipe U beneath the tank is provided with a stop-cock or regulating-valve W, and the pipe J rearwardly of the coupling J3 is provided with a similar regulating-valve W'. Above the coupling J3 is an ejector Y.

The operation of rny newly-invented process is as follows: The ores and a small portion of a weak solution (preferably a one-quarterof-one-per-cent; solution) of cyanid of potassium and only suflcient in amount to saturate the ores are inserted through the feedhole of the cylinder and the latter closed by means of the cover-plate F and the clampingscrew G. Power is then applied to the pulley P to rotate the cylinder, and the effective leaching of the ores then commences. As the operation continues air of the most efficient temperature and a fresh solution of the same or any other desired strength (according to the character of the ore under treatment) is forced through the inlet-pipe J and valves L into the cylinder in the form of a spray. Air may be forced in alone either hot or cold and its amount and force governed by the regulating-valve W', and by turning'on the regulating-valve W the cyanid solution enters the air-inlet pipe J and is injected with the air into the cylinder. The amount of cyanid introduced is regulated by the valve W and also in part by the air-pressure valve W. When the apparatus is employed exactly as shown in the drawings, a combination of hot air and cyanid-solution spray will be injected into the cylinder under considerable pressure. In practice I prefer to heat the air in 'the treatment of oxidized ores to about 100 perature. It instantaneously adds fresh cy-A anid of potassium or other solvent in the form of spray continuously. It forces the oxygen and also the solution into and between all the parts of the ore charge during any special time or during the entire time, according to the character of the ores operated upon. lt supplies oxygen to replace, that element as rapidly as it separates from the cyanogen compound to enter into new molecular combination with gold, silver, and potassium. It regenerates or strengthens the solution with a constant supply of the solvent compound, thereby preventing chemical inertia by replacing cya'nogen which has combined with hydrogen liberated in the passing over of Oxy-- gen to form the new com pounds-auro-potassic cyanid, argento-potassio cyanid, and potassic hydrate. Moreover, a systematic agitation is produced in which the ore is carried up by the baffles and 'falls by its gravity back through the warm currents of air and spray of solution, and in this systematic agitation, besides supplying oxygen to replace that element as it is needed in the cyanogen compounds, another purpose is also served of removing lms of insoluble basic oxids from the surface of coarse gold,renderin g it more immediately amenable to the chemical treatment. My improved method also accomplishes the expulsion, through the outlet-chamberK past the valve L and through the outlet-pipe J to a safe distance outside the building, of the poisonous hydrocyanic fumes generated from the excess of hydrogen and cyanogen liberated by the combination of. the oxygen with gold, silver, and potassium. The agitation of the ores and chemicals by the strips orbaflles C also breaks up and thoroughly disintegrates the vitrified lumps occurring-in ores or concentrates from imperfect roasting and likewise Wears awayimpenetrable massesy of slime, thereby bringing the gold and silver more readily in contact with the cyanid of potassium'or other chemicals. Coarse gold,

which is oftentimes discharged from leaching-cylinders with the tailings after treatment, is in this device Worked upon by baffles until the chemical extraction becomes nearly perfect. From the continuous regenerating IIC! or strengthening of the solution with a fresh supply of the solvent I replace cyanogen which has combined with liberated hydrogen and potassium cyanogen that have combined with gold and silver in the reaction forming double cyanid as follows:

Cyanid of Gold. Oxy- Wa- Auro-potassium Potassium potassium. gen. ter. cyanid. hydrate.

and

eLKCy-l-QAg-i-O-l-HO:QAgKCy-l-2KOH. Cyanid of Silver, Oxy- Wa- Argento-potas- Potassium potassium. gen. ter. sium cyanid. hydrate.

The agitation of the ores and wearing away of films of insoluble basic oxids from the surface of coarse gold render it more immediately amenable to the cyanid treatment. Any hydrocyanic acid fumes which may be present are forced by the supplied air-current entering through the inlet-pipe .I outwardly into the outlet-chamber and outlet-pipe to a point out of the building. Not only is the element thus removed, but, moreover, a continuous current of air thus circulates longitudinally of the cylinder, and the ores as they are tumbled by the battles E of the cylinder pass through this air and receive a spray or bath of the oxygen and solvent cyanogen compound.

I do not desire to confine myself to every step or detail of my process as herein described, as it is apparent that changes therein and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein as fairly come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The process of treating ores which consists in saturating the said ores with a chemical solvent, revolving the ores and solvent, agitating and breaking up the ores, injecting a current of heated air under pressure charged with fresh solvent in the form of a spray at one point to the ore charge, circulating the said spray through the ore charge axially of its revolution and agitation, and carrying off liberated elements and fumes at a point opposite to the injection of the spray.

2. The process of treating ores herein described which consists in injecting into said ores, as they are agitated and elevated and allowed to fall by gravity in a closed chamber, a chemical solution in the form of a spray together with hot air under pressure, and allowing the elements and fumes freed by this operation to escape from said chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claimthe foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 13th 65 day of September, 1901.

SIDNEY THEODORE MUFFLY. Witnesses B. H. ABBOTT, A. G. Density. 

